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LGBTQ rights in Luxembourg

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LGBTQ rights in Luxembourg
Location of Luxembourg (dark green)

– in Europe (light green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (light green)  –  [Legend]

StatusLegal since 1794,
age of consent (re)equalised in 1992
Gender identityTransgender people allowed to change legal gender without surgery
MilitaryGays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation and "change of sex" protected (see below)
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsPartnership since 2004;
Same-sex marriage since 2015
AdoptionFull adoption rights since 2015

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Luxembourg have the same legal rights as non-LGBTQ people.[1][2] Partnerships, which grant many of the benefits of marriage, have been recognised since 2004. In June 2014, the Luxembourgish Parliament passed a law enabling same-sex marriage and adoption rights, which took effect on 1 January 2015. Additionally, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and "change of sex" in employment, healthcare and the provision of goods and services is outlawed, and transgender people are allowed to change their legal gender on the basis of self-determination.

Luxembourgish society is noted as tolerant of homosexuality and same-sex relationships. Xavier Bettel, who served as the Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 2013 to 2023, is openly homosexual.[3] Polling in 2019 from the Eurobarometer found that 87% of Luxembourgers believed gay, lesbian and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual people, one of the highest in the European Union.[4] In 2021, ILGA-Europe ranked Luxembourg third in the European Union for LGBT rights protection.[5]

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

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Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in 1794 (when the country was a French possession). Article 372 of the Penal Code sets the age of consent to 16, regardless of sexual orientation or gender. This was increased to 18 for same-sex sexual activity in 1971 by the addition of article 372 to the Penal Code, which was repealed in 1992.[6]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

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Main article: Same-sex marriage in Luxembourg

Partnerships have been available in Luxembourg since 2004. Partnerships, called partenariat in French and Partnerschaft in Luxembourgish and German, are based on the French PACS model. The law which permits these unions was enacted on 1 November 2004.[7]

In 2009, the Government of Luxembourg announced its intention to legalise same-sex marriage. However, after much delay, a final vote was not held until June 2014, when it passed by 56 votes to 4 and took effect on 1 January 2015.

Adoption and family planning

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See also: LGBT parenting

After a parliamentary vote in June 2014, a law granting full adoption rights to same-sex couples came into effect on 1 January 2015. Additionally, lesbian couples can access IVF and medically assisted insemination treatments.

A same-sex parenting case has been tested through the courts. After their twin boys were born in California via surrogacy, a same-sex couple sought citizenship for their children. In May 2017, Justice Minister Félix Braz granted Luxembourgish citizenship to one of the boys, but in December refused to grant citizenship to the other child. The couple filed suit. In January 2019, the Administrative Court of Luxembourg reversed the decision of the Minister of Justice. The judges considered that the complaint was well founded. As both parents are recorded on California birth documents, the judges concluded that Braz was wrong to grant citizenship to one child and to deny citizenship to the other—even if one of the applicants is not the biological father.[8][9]

Discrimination protections

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Luxembourgish law prohibits discrimination (both direct and indirect) based on sexual orientation and "change of sex" (within the definition of sex) in employment, education, social security, healthcare, and the provision of goods and services.[10][11] In addition, hate crime legislation also refers to these characteristics and they are recognised as aggravating factors.[12] Article 1 of the anti-discrimination law, commonly referred to as the Law of 28 november 2006 on equal treatment (French: Loi du 28 novembre 2006 sur l'égalité de traitement; Luxembourgish: Gesetz vum 28. November 2006 zu der Gläichbehandlung; German: Gleichbehandlungsgesetz vom 28. November 2006), reads as follows:

Any direct or indirect discrimination based on religion or religious convictions, disability, age, sexual orientation, membership or non-membership, true or perceived, to a race or ethnicity is forbidden.

Luxembourgish nationals are allowed to serve in the Armed Forces regardless of sexual orientation.

As part of its LGBT Action Plan 2018–2023, Luxembourg has pledged to ensure inclusive educational opportunities for LGBT students, combat violence, harassment and discrimination, guarantee equal treatment in access to health care services and employment, and assure the equality of transgender and intersex individuals.[13][14]

Transgender rights

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See also: Legal status of transgender people

In the past, Luxembourg legally required transgender people to undergo surgery, sterilization and divorce before a change of gender on identification documents. However, on 12 May 2017, the Council of Government approved a bill to regulate the procedure of legal sex changes.[15] An adult person would need to submit an application to the Ministry of Justice to change their legal sex. No surgery, sterilization, divorce or other medical treatment would be required. Minors even under the age of 5 would be able to apply for a sex change with the consent of their legal guardians.[16][17][18] On 31 May, the bill was submitted to the Parliament,[19] and was approved in a 57–3 vote on 25 July 2018.[20][21][22] On 27 July 2018, the Council of State gave its consent to skip the second vote.[23] It was promulgated by the Grand Duke on 10 August and published in the official journal on 12 September. The law took effect on 16 September 2018.[24]

Blood donation

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Since January 2021,[25] donors who have had sexual relations with men who have sex with men (MSM) are allowed to donate plasma, regardless of gender. After 12 months of not having sexual contact with MSM, donors are allowed to donate blood.

LGBT rights movement in Luxembourg

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The 2011 Gaymat Festival in Esch-sur-Alzette
See also: LGBT social movements

Luxembourg's main LGBT rights group is Pink Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Rosa Lëtzebuerg). It was founded on 26 June 1996 and had 220 members by 2004.[26] Its aims are to promote the civil rights of LGBT people, to fight against discrimination, to work in terms of social, cultural and legal matters for full equality, and to organise social and cultural activities.[27] It organizes annual pride demonstrations, known as the Gaymat Festival. Intersex & Transgender Luxembourg (ITGL) campaigns for transgender and intersex rights.[28]

Public opinion

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A Eurobarometer survey published in December 2006 showed that 58% of Luxembourgers surveyed supported same-sex marriage and 39% supported adoption by same-sex couples. The EU-wide average in this survey was 44% and 33%, respectively.[29] Support for same-sex marriage had increased to 75% by 2015 according to the same pollster.[30]

The 2019 Eurobarometer showed that 87% of Luxembourgers believed gay and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual people, and 85% supported same-sex marriage.[4]

The 2023 Eurobarometer found that 84% of Luxembourgers thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, and 86% agreed that "there is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex".[31]

Summary table

[edit]
Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (Since 1794)
Equal age of consent (16) Yes (Since 1992)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment Yes (Since 2006)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes (Since 2006)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) Yes (Since 2006)
Anti-discrimination laws concerning gender identity Yes (Under "change of sex")
Same-sex marriage Yes (Since 2015)
Recognition of same-sex couples Yes (Since 2004)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Since 2015)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Since 2015)
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly in the military Yes
Right to change legal gender Yes[21]
Conversion therapy banned on minors No
Access to IVF for lesbian couples Yes[when?]
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples No (Banned regardless of sexual orientation)
MSMs allowed to donate blood Yes/No (since 2021, one-year deferral period)[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rainbow Europe - Luxembourg". ILGA-Europe. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. ^ "The 203 Worst (& Safest) Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023". Asher & Lyric. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Je suis surpris de devenir bourgmestre". L'essentiel. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Eurobarometer on Discrimination 2019: The social acceptance of LGBTI people in the EU". TNS. European Commission. p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Country Ranking". Rainbow Europe. May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Rapport du Groupe européen d'Experts dans le domaine de la Lutte contre la Discrimination fondée sur l'Orientation sexuelle" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Loi du 9 juillet 2004 relative aux effets légaux de certains partenariats".
  8. ^ Luxembourg Administrative Court, judgment of 19 December 2018 (in French)
  9. ^ "L'enfant aurait le droit d'être Luxembourgeois". L'Essentiel (in French). 4 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Loi du 28 novembre 2006 portant 1. transposition de la directive 2000/43/CE du Conseil du 29 juin 2000 relative à la mise en oeuvre du principe de l'égalité de traitement entre les personnes sans distinction de race ou d'origine ethnique; 2. transposition de la directive 2000/78/CE du Conseil du 27 novembre 2000 portant création d'un cadre général en faveur de l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 3. modification du Code du travail et portant introduction dans le Livre II d'un nouveau titre V relatif à l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 4. modification des articles 454 et 455 du Code pénal; 5. modification de la loi du 12 septembre 2003 relative aux personnes handicapées. - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  11. ^ "Loi du 3 juin 2016 portant modification: 1. des articles L. 126-1, L. 241-1 et L. 426-14 du Code du travail; 2. de l'article 9 de la loi modifiée du 28 novembre 2006 portant 1. transposition de la directive 2000/43/CE du Conseil du 29 juin 2000 relative à la mise en oeuvre du principe de l'égalité de traitement entre les personnes sans distinction de race ou d'origine ethnique; 2. transposition de la directive 2000/78/CE du Conseil du 27 novembre 2000 portant création d'un cadre général en faveur de l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 3. modification du Code du travail et portant introduction dans le Livre II d'un nouveau Titre V relatif à l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 4. modification des articles 454 et 455 du Code pénal; 5. modification de la loi du 12 septembre 2003 relative aux personnes handicapées; 3. de l'article 1er de la loi du 13 mai 2008 relative à l'égalité de traitement entre hommes et femmes; 4. de l'article 1ter de la loi modifiée du 16 avril 1979 fixant le statut général des fonctionnaires del'Etat; 5. de l'article 1ter de la loi modifiée du 24 décembre 1985 fixant le statut général des fonctionnaires communaux; 6. de l'article 454 du Code pénal. - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  12. ^ "Code pénal - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  13. ^ "Agressions LGBTphobes: un durcissement des sanctions attendu". Le Quotidien (in French). 18 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Plan d'action national pour la promotion des droits des personnes LGBTI". Ministère de la Famille, de l'Intégration et à la Grande Région (in French).
  15. ^ "Résumé des travaux du 12 mai 2017". Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Projet de loi relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l'état civil et portant modification du Code civil" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Changement de sexe et de prénom: La procédure va être simplifiée à l'état civil". 5minutes.rtl.lu.
  18. ^ "Personnes transgenres et intersexes : l'état civil laissera le choix de l'identité | Le Quotidien".
  19. ^ "Chambre des Députés du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg".
  20. ^ "Chambre : Changement d'état civil simplifié pour les personnes transgenres | Le Quotidien".
  21. ^ a b "Luxembourg makes status change for transgender people easier". luxtimes.lu. 26 July 2018.
  22. ^ "In parliament: Progressive legislation to make changing gender easier". today.rtl.lu.
  23. ^ "Projet de toi relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l'état civil et portant modification du Code civil - Dispense du second vote constitutionnel par le Conseil d'État (27.7.2018)".
  24. ^ "Loi du 10 août 2018 relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l'état civil et portant modification du Code civil. - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  25. ^ a b "Homoglobin". Journal (in German). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  26. ^ Rosa Lëtzebuerg a.s.b.l.
  27. ^ (in French) Présentation de l'association Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ "Official website of Intersex & Transgender Luxembourg" (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Eight EU Countries Back Same-Sex Marriage: Angus Reid Global Monitor". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007.
  30. ^ "DISCRIMINATION IN THE EU IN 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Discrimination in the EU_sp535_volumeA.xlsx [QB15_2] and [QB15_3]" (xls). data.europa.eu. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
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